Seed-planter.



A. J. H. REID.

SEED PLANTER.

APPLlcATloN msn :UNE 8. 1914.

Patented May 4 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Attorneys THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FliOTD-LlTHU41 WASHINGTON. ll!A C4 .IBI v A. l. H. REID.

SEED PLANTER.

APPLICATIUN FILED :UNE 8,1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE MORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. D. C.

ALFRED .TERE HOB/N BEID, OE HENDERSON, TENNESSEE.

SEED-PLANTEB. y l l Liemeer.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application led J une 8, 1914. Serial No. 843,820.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED J. H. REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at enderson, in the county of Chester and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Seed-Planter, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to seed planters and is particularly an improvement over the planter disclosed in my Patent No. 976,292, issued November 22, 1910.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a machine for planting cotton seed, corn, peas, and other seeds,and which machine will be improved in its construction and details, to enhance the utility of the machine.

@ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a seed planter having unique seed bed working means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means for discharging the vseed from the hopper.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds', the invention resides in' the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved seed planter. Fig. 2` isa bottom view of the planter. Fig. 3 is a transverse or cross section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

The frame of the present structure includes a longitudinal beam comprising a pair of bars 1, which arejuxtaposed, and which are spread apart adjacent their rear ends, as at 2.

The hopper 3 is disposed above the spaced or separated portions 2 of the bars 1, or above the opening formed by the said portions 2, and the sides of the hopper 3 are provided with depending extensions or plates 4 secured to the outer sides of the portions 2, to support the hopper in place.

bottom is further provided with depending y flanges or lips 7 a along the edges of the slot or opening 7, for the kpurpose which will hereinafter appear.

rlhe seed discharging or dropping device embodies a pair of sprocket wheels 8 mounted upon the axle 5 between and adj acent the respective offset or separated portions 2, below the front wall of the hopper, and a pair of idler sprocket wheels 9 secured upon a countershaft 10 journaled through the hopper extensions or plates 4 below the rear wall of the hopper thereover, an endless conveyer of the nature disclosed in the above mentioned patent. This conveyer, which is of a double sprocket chain type, embodies a pair of endless sprocket chains 11 trained over the respective sprocket wheels 8 and 9 and having their links connected by bars 12, which form a continuous flexible apron between the sprocket chains 11. The bars 12 are provided with outstanding lugs 13 of suitable character, such as that disclosed in the said patent, the lugs 13 being arranged to receive the seed and to carry the same forwardly along the seed channel 7. The endless conveyer has its upper run working directly below the slot or channel 7, the depending iianges 7a fitting snugly upon the upperfrun of the conveyer within the sprocket chains 11, to prevent the escape of seed over the sides of the conveyer.

The upper run of the conveyer is preferably supported by a cross piece 14 terminally secured to the extensions or plates 4, whereby the upper run of the conveyer will be supported under the weight of the seed, and will travel properly along the slot or channel 7, for the purposes intended.

VA. vertically adjustable gage 15 is carried by the front wall of the hopper 3, and has i its lower endcoperating with kthe forward portion of the conveyer, to control the discharge of the seed, and to close the forward end of the slot or channel 7, the lower end 0f the` gage 15 being provided with a notch or opening 15EL through which the conveyorn Within the hopper 3, is an agitating de-A vice, which embodies a star-shaped agitator 16 secured upon a transverse shaft 17 journaled through the sides of the hopper 8, adjacent the bottom of the hopper, the radial arms of the agitator 16 working close to the'upper run'` of the conveyor yand cooperating with the lugs 13 to assist in working the seed between the lugs as the agitator is rotated. Tol rotate the'A agitator 16, a sprocket wheel 18 is secured upon o ne projecting end of the agitator 'shaft 17, and a sprocket wheel 19is secured Yupon the aXle adfj-acent"onel groun'dwheel 6, a sprocket chain 2O being trained over lthe sprocket ywheels 18v and 19', whereby the agitator shaft will be rotated. An'agitator 2l, similar to the' agitator le, is also mountedwth-n the hopper 3, above the agitator ldandlrasts arms arranged to be vengaged rby the free ends of the Varin of' the agitator 16. The agitator 21 is mounted upon a transverse Vshaft 22 jo-urnaled through the sides of the hopper 3', the agitator 2l being idle, and be- 'ing rotated by the agitator i6 due to the tact thaty the arms or fingers of the two agitators interdigitate. Y

A furrow opening device is carried by the forward end of the' frame, and to this end a pair'o'f rearwardly inclined bars 29 `have their vupper ends secured to the'outer' sides of the bars 1 adjacent the forward ends of the said bars 1, and a blockv or Slide 24 is slidably mounted between the bars 23k which forma plow" foot'ror standard. `A clamping bolt 24a is' engaged through the block or slide 2,4- andi's arranged to the plowY share or blade 25V againstthe' forward edges of the bars-23, the block or slide a4 being adjustable vertically when the 'bolt 24a" is loosened,Y as will lbe obvious, 'to thereby adjust the verti'cal positionfofthe plow share or blade 25. The plow share 25 'is preferably of theiniddle burster type, to

i open the furrow. The plow share ori blade projects below Ythe" standard kor foot The fr'ame of y 'the machine further includes -a pair of lower longitudinal spaced vsideloars 26, which have their' forward ends;V odset 'toward eaoli other, as at l27, and secured between theV lower Yendsof the standard bars V23, central longitudinal loar' 28 Valso havii'igv its' forward .ends secured between' the forward ends '27 yof the' 'bars 26v and vthe lower ends ofthe standard bars 23N. A forwardly 'inclined bar or lbrace 29 'has its upper endv secured between 'the forward end portions of the'bearjri Ibars l, has its' nterrnediate portion scoured between `'the standard bars' adjacent the'hfars 1, Iand has its' lower end secured to one-side of the lower Ybar-'U28 adjacent its rear end. A rearwardly inclined brace 29 hasits lower end secured to the other sid'evof the bar 28 opposite the lower end of the brace 29 and has its upper end secured between the bars 1. A pair of rearwardly inclined bracesv 30 have their lower ends secured to the bars 26 adjacent their rear ends,- and have their upper ends secured to the remote or outer sides of the bars 1 adjacent the forward ends of the portions 2. f j Y, l

,n pairv of shoes or runners 31 are secured tol the inner sides'jof the bars 26 adjacent the transa'ferseA portions 26a' of the bars 26 of the bars 26 adjacent the shoes or run-ky ners 31 and have li-verging wings` 3d at theirV rear ends forming deflectorsin advance of the ground wheels 6 and adapted to throw the soil to' the opposite sides rvadvance of the grou-nd wheels, yto provide th'efurrows in which the groundA wheels may run'.

Thejseed chute or boot coniprises'an upright bar 85 secured between rthe bars 1 of the beam and between the upper ends of the ybraces 30,- and upriglrt" rearwardly diverging plates or wings Bidseeured to they sides of l the bar 35 and projecting towardk the edges of the .conveyer to receive the seed ejected' forward-ly from thez conveyer.

secondary or' auxiliary furrow opening device is provided in rear of the plow sha-re 25V, and which is somewhat sword-:shaped 1n forni. The secondary furrowl open-ing device includesa pair of plates 3:7 which have their forward endsVV pivoted 'to Vthel rear endY or the bar 28.

The sprocket wheelsv '8 and 9 are disposed adjacent the extensions or plates el, have Y trained as at 3S, and which diverge at a relatively small vacute angle, to the rear, the rear ends of the plates" 37 being' bent angularly to provide' deflectors or wings 39 arranged at a larger acute angle with VVrespect to one another, ythan the body portions yoffthek'plates 37. The deflectors or wings 89 `diverge di-f rectly' advance 'of thelowerr ends of the wings 36 of the chuteor boot, Vand thedefiectors 'or wings 89 project or extend belowv the'chute or boot, to 'open the furrow kdirectly inadvance 'of Vthe chute or boot.

Y The V`secondary [furrow opener is adapted to be' adjusted vertically, and to Vthis end, a

hanger 40 has its flower end pivoted, las at 4l, betweethe Abody portions of the plates 37 vand has its upper end clamped between the, bars V1, vby 'means of a clamping bolt il centresting the said'lbars directly in `advance of the hanger. Thus, when the bolt 41 is loosened, the hanger 40 may be adjusted ver* ,tically to swing the furrow opener 37-36 vertically so as to properly adjust the deflectors or wings 39 according to the depth of furrow desired.

The rear end of the machine is provided with a furrow closer and packer, which embodies a link 42 pivoted between the rear ends of the bars 1, and having an axle 43 journaled through its lower or free end. The axle 43 includes a bolt having suitably spacing washers thereon. Wheels 44 are secured upon the ends of the axle or bolt 43 and have their peripheries beveled inwardly, to thereby provide a rotary furrow closer and packer having an annular orccircumferential recess arranged to move over the furrow. The furrow closer and packer 44-44 is arranged to trail at the rear of the machine.

To assist in closing the furrow, plates 45 are secured to the outer sides of the bars 26 at the rear ends of the said bars, and the rear ends of the plates 45 are provided with converging or inwardly directed deflectors or wings 46 in rear of the wings or deectors 39 and adapted to direct the soil back into the furrow opened by the deflectors or wings 39.

1n operation, supposing the hopper'3 to be filled with the seed which is to be planted, the planter or machine may be drawn over the soil in the usual manner, by hitching the draft animal or animals to the forward end of the beam 1-1. Then, the plow share 25 will break open the soil, to provide the primary furrow, and the runners or shoes 31, in slridding or riding upon the soil turned by the plow share 25, will support the forward end of the machine, and at the same time, will direct the soil partially back into the furrow made by the plow share 25. The defiectors or wings 34 will direct the soil outwardly to the opposite sides to level the soil directly in advance of the ground wheels 6, whereby the said ground wheels will evenly and properly run astride thefurrow made by the plow share 25, and within the furrow made by the deiiectors 34. Thus, the plow share 25 and the shoes or runners 31 work the soil, to provide a seed bed, the seed furrow then being formed in the seed Vbed by the secondary furrow opener. The secondary furrow opener, constituting the plates 37 having the rear deflectors or wings 39 will form the seed furrow in a thoroughly efficient manner, due to the sword-shape of the secondary furrow opener, it also being noted that the secondary furrow opener may be adjusted vertically according to the depth of seed furrow desired.

As the ground wheels 6 turn within the furrows formed by the defiectors 34, they will rotate the sprocket wheels 8 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1, to thereby move the upper run of the conveyer forwardly. Thus, the seed will be caught and conveyed forwardly by the lugs 13 of the upper run of the conveyer and will be ejected vor discharged forwardly into the boot or chute 36-36. The seed is thus dropped in rear of the boot or chute into the seed furrow, the lugs 13 of the conveyer properly dropping the seed at spaced points, according to the requirements. The gage 15 may also be adjusted to regulate the discharge of seed as desired.

The axle 5 of the ground wheels being rotated, will also actuate the agitator 16 to thereby properly agitate the seed in order that it will enter the seed channel 7 to be taken up by the lugs 13 of the conveyer. The secondary agitator 21 will be actuated by the agitator 16, as will be obvious.

Immediately after the seed is dropped into the seed furrow, the furrow closing deflectors or wings 46 following the wings or deectors 39, will direct the soil back into the seed furrow, to close the same, and to cover the seed, and then, the packer 4444 in trailing in rear of the deiiectors 46, will complete the closing of the seed furrow, and will form a transversely convexed ridge over the row of planted seeds, to assist in shed.

ding water to the water furrows at the sides of the seed bed. The runners or shoes 31 also project below the bars 26, to support the said bars, above the soil to prevent interference.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, the advantages and capabilities of the present machine will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further comment being necessary, it being noted, however, that the machine may be employed as a fertilizer distributer, if desired, or the machine may be provided with duplicate hoppers and discharge means for seed and fertilizer.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a machine of the character described, a frame comprising an upper beam, lower spaced side bars having their forward ends offset toward one another, a lower central bar secured between the forward ends of the side bars, a standard connecting the forward ends of the said bars and the forward end portion of the beam, and braces connecting the said bars and beam, a plow share carried by the standard, deflectors secured to the said side bars in rear of the plow share for deflecting the soil inwardly, a seed furrow opener attached to the rear end of the central bar, a seed boot carried by the beam and depending in rear of the said furrow opener, and furrow closing deflectors carried by the rear ends of the side bars in rear of the said boot.

a plow share carried bythe standard in front of the said lower central bar, runners secured to the said side bars in rear of the i plow share and having' deleotors for defleeting the soil inwardly, a seed furrow opener lhaving its forward end pivoted to the rear end'of the said central bar, means and depending in rear of thev said defleetors of the seed' furrow opener, and furrow elosl Y Y ing deiiectors Carried by the rear ends of the slde bars 1n rear of the' boot.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing yas my own, I have hereto afiXed my signature i-n the presence of twoV witnesses.'

ALFRED JERE .HORN REID. l/Vtnesses:

G. VV.(lPERKI1\s,v J.L M. FRY.

G'opies of this patentmay be obtained for ve centsV each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Y

, Washington, D. C. 

